Counter heater



A 1932- 1 w. H. BAYNARD 1,870,666

COUNTER HEATER Filed July 6, 1928 Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. RAYNARn, or BOSTON, MAssAoHUsETTs; AssreNo o HARRY BECKWITH, or BRooK mE, MASSACHUSETTS COUNTER HEATER In the application for'patent of Harry H. Beckwith Serial No. 290,310, filed July 5, 1928, for shoe having a counter stiffener and method of shaping the counter, is disclosed and claimed the molding of the counted portion of a shoe directly to the foot of the wearer, this counter having a stifiener containing a thermoplastic stiffening agent which is so softened by heat for the molding operation and is permitted to set or rigidify while the stiffener is in molded condition.

The present invention has for its object to provide a heater for the counter, and while not limited for use in connection with i the Beckwith process, it has been designed more particularly for use in connection therewith. It comprises, therefore, a support over which the shoe may be placed with its counter portion in sufiicient proximity to a heating element so that the counter stiffener becomes softened thereby and in its preferred form it comprises a heating support on which the shoe may be suspended heel end upwardly.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, the position of a shoe supported thereon being indicated by dotted lines.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the heating portion.

Figures 3 and 4 are detail sections on lines 3-3 and l -4:, respectively.

Referring to this drawing, the device comprises a stand consisting of a base 1 having a standard 2 rising from one end portion thereof, the upper end of the standard being inclined as shown at 3 toward the opposite end of said base. This standard 2 is shown as formed of a pipe, the lower end of which is threaded at 4 into a boss 5 upstanding from the base 1. This boss 5 is hollow to receive wires 6 and 7 extending through the standard 2, one of which leads to a suitable switch 8 mounted in the base, and which are in electrical connection through the cable 9 with a suitable source of electric power. This cable 9 is shown as passing out from the hollow of the boss through a suitable insulating bushing 10. The wires 6 and 7 projecting from the top of the standard 2 are shown as electrically connectedto a heating unit 12., which is supported within a head 14 carried by the upper end of the standard 3 and depending therefrom. This head 14; has one side, as 15, formed concaved to the general contour of the inner face of the shank and heel portion of the sole of a shoe and terminating adjacent to the forward end of the shank portion, the shoe being shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The head also has a wall portion 16 spaced from the side throughout the greater portion of its length but merging therewith at its lower end as at 17 The wall portion 16 is shown as provided with a pair of brackets 18, which holds the heating unit 12 in position. The sides of the head opposite to the sides of the counter are open. The upper ends of the portions 16 and 15 are joined together as by 7 means of a post 20 and the portion 16 is shown as provided with a boss 21 within which the upper end of the standard 3 may be secured in any suitable manner. The head 14: is so formed as to support the shoe suspended thereon with its heel end upwardly as shown in Figure 1, and its forepart out of contact with and spaced below the head 14:, the heating element 12 then being positioned between the sides of the counter so as to radiate heat thereto and cause the counter stiifener having a thermoplastic stiffening agent therein to become sufiiciently soft and limp so that it may be molded directly to the foot of the wearer, as is disclosed in the Beckwith application hereinbefore identified.

It will be noted that the head does not extend down into the forepart of the shoe and that the heel end of the shoe is hung over the head so that the toe of the shoe is well beneath it and out of the path of heated air rising therefrom. Danger of heating the toe portion of the shoe, which might become softened and misshapen if sufliciently heated,

is thus avoided. Moreover, the wall portions 15 and 16 merging together at the lower end of the head act to conduct heat away from the lower end of the head thus further protecting the toe portion of the shoe from the heat.

A preferred embodiment of this invention having thus been described, it should be evident to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications might be made therein Without departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims. 7

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a head overwhich the counter portion of a shoe may be placed, said head having side openings directedtoward the counter sides of the shoe so placed, and heating means in said head postioned to direct heat against the shoe through said openings.

2. A device of the class described comprising an electric heating unit, means for supporting said unit Within the heel end portion of a shoe for direct radiation of heat to the counter of the shoe, and means for masking the sole and toe portions of the shoe from direct radiation from said unit.

3. A device of the class described comprising a base, a. standard rising from said base,

a head at the upper end of said standard shaped to enter the heel end portion only of a shoe, and a heating unit supported Within said head, said head having lateral openings exposing the counter of a shoe thereon to direct radiation from said unit.

In testimony whereof I have afi'iXed my sig* nature. V WVILLIAM I-I. BAYNARD. 

